Digital technologies could boost public services in African countries

Africans may benefit from improved public services - and reduced corruption - if advocates of digital technology persuade governments across the continent to embrace change.

Sam Yongo, chief executive officer of MC Telecom, a telecommunications operator in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said the digitization of public services could help African countries fight corruption, a blight that has held back economic growth and undermined good governance and social development.

"When documents and services are digitized, it's difficult to illegally alter them, especially when specific technologies like blockchain are used," said Yongo, referring to the electronic ledger system that underpins some digital currencies.